If you want to score a meeting with Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), know this: His scheduler/office manager, Elizabeth Becton, is to be addressed by her full name  not Liz or any other variant.

An executive assistant at McBee Strategic recently learned this the hard way. A few weeks ago, the assistant e-mailed Becton seeking a meeting with McDermott and a client, JPMorgan Chase. Days later, the assistant checked back in and unfortunately began the e-mail with Hi Liz.

Becton curtly replied, Who is Liz?

When the assistant wrote back with an apology, Becton turned up the heat. I do not go by Liz. Where did you get your information? she asked.

The back-and-forth went on for 19 e-mails, with the assistant apologizing six times if she had offended Becton, while Becton lectured about name-calling.

Becton told the assistant that if someone said using Liz was acceptable, then they are not your friend, and If I wanted you to call me by any other name, I would have offered that to you. Plus, its rude when people dont even ask permission and take all sorts of liberties with your name, she said, adding: Please do not ever call me by a nickname again.

But the tirade didnt end there. Becton continued her riff  responding that the assistant got played by someone who was trying to tick Becton off. Bectons final, searing missive stated: In the future, you should be VERY careful about such things. People like to brag about their connections in D.C. Its a pastime for some. Its also dangerous to eavesdrop, as you have just found out. Quit apologizing and never call me anything but Elizabeth again. Also, make sure you correct anyone who attempts to call me by any other name but Elizabeth. Are we clear on this? Like I said, its a hot button for me. And please dont call the office and not leave a message. My colleague told me you called while I was away. ... I do sometimes leave my desk.

McDermott spokesman Mike DeCesare told us Tuesday, An apology is being issued as we speak, adding, This isnt reflective of the way we do business in this office.

If I wanted you to call me by any other name, I would have offered that to you. I think it's rude when people don't even ask permission and take all sorts of liberties with your name. This is a real sore spot with me. My name has a lot of "nicknames" which I don't use. I use either my first name or my last name because I row with a lot of other women who share the same first name. Now, please do not ever call me by a nickname again.

As for your meeting request, who is the point of contact for this meeting? If it's not you, then I need to know who because it's very time-consuming to deal with a lot of people for one meeting.

Let me put it this way, they don't know me and perhaps they were PRETENDING to know me better than they do and pretended that I go by Liz. They did YOU a disservice.

In the future, you should be VERY careful about such things. People like to brag about their connections in DC. It's a past time for some. It's also dangerous to eaves drop, as you have just found out.

Quit apologizing and never call me anything but Elizabeth again. Also, make sure you correct anyone who attempts to call me by any other name but Elizabeth. Are we clear on this? Like I said, it's a hot button for me.

And please don't call the office and not leave a message. My colleague told me you called while I was away at the Ladies' room. I do sometimes leave my desk.

It’s a power struggle and Liz won. That’s Washington for you. Her power is with Baghdad Jim. As long as he’s in power, she stays in power. However, once Baghdad Jim loses (we hope most sincerely it happens soon), Lizard Liddy will receive her comeuppance. Tom Foley’s wife, Heather (and she’s a dragon too) controlled the parking spots. She also controlled Foley’s office. With parking at a premium, you can your booties, Heather wielded her power like Lizard Liddy. These emails weren’t about an erroneous name. It was about Lizard Lizzie exerting her power.

As I posted on the other thread about this, she has every right to ask to be treated respectfully by someone that she doesnt know. I am also very irritated by someone presuming intimacy when I have just met them.

She may have gone overboard but it is irritating to be addressed by your first name let alone a diminutive by someone that you don't know.

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to a General at a hearing yesterday: “Do me a favor,” she said. “Could say senator instead of Ma’am It’s just a thing, I worked so hard to get that title, so I’d appreciate it, thank you.”

Hi Liz, I read about your e-mail exchange in the news. Wow, you must have some real anger issues. Why is it that all liberal Democrats are so angry? You know I have a daughter named Elizabeth. When she was growing up she did not like her name so she went by her middle name. Then while in High School she decided she did not like her middle name and wanted to be known as Elizabeth. But now she has graduated from college and we laugh about the things she did as a teenager. I don't think I read in the article; but how old are you? Well, I am sorry you don't like to be called Liz; but think of it this way you could be called by a name a whole lot worse... Maybe you should think about some anger management counseling. Maybe its your boss. I know I have had some real embarrassing bosses in my life time. Anyway, lighten up after all we are paying your salary; which from what I read, you appeared to be highly overpaid.

Take care Liz

Sincerely, Donald

BTW, people have also called me Don, Donny, and Donna but its okay because I am a grown up :)

Having worked in politics and as a Human Resources employee, my recommendation for dealing with this twit would be to send a letter reporting this snot assistant to the Congressman. I would inform him that you have all the emails sent by his twit assistant and that you plan to post them on blogs on the Internet so the world can read what rude employees he has representing him. I would also say that I’m sending the emails to Glenn Beck and Hannity at Fox News. Further, you will be keeping the emails to be used by his opponent when he runs for re-election. I would tell the Congressman that he was sent to Washington to serve the citizens of his district and they should be able to contact him without be subjected to a rude, arrogant, snot.

“she has every right to ask to be treated respectfully by someone that she doesnt know. I am also very irritated by someone presuming intimacy when I have just met them.”

Give me a break. People in positions of power may have the luxury to “Demand respect”, but this is an administrative grunt job, her duties are to provide assistance and customer service to constituents. She might prefer Elizabeth and has every right to request that for the future. She has no right to berate, become angry, and then demand she quit apologizing. Geez.......

A polite - “Thanks for your email, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Elizabeth and I am in charge of ....... I will get back with you as to the times and dates of the meeting.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth.

“And I don’t like nobody touching my stuff. So just keep your meat-hooks off. If I catch any of you guys in my stuff, I’ll kill you. Also, I don’t like nobody touching me. Now, any of you homos touch me, and I’ll kill you”

This lady is more than just rude, she has real mental issues that need to be resolved. How she manages to get any real work done while obsessing on non issues like this, is beyond me. If I were Rep.McDermott I would, perhaps temporarily, remove her from her position or at the very least suggest that she take an obviously much needed break from the job. She’s really too thin skinned to be associated with politics in any way.

I myself have gone through life with an almost unpronounceable Gaelic first name. When I married, on top of my first name, I took on an often mispronounced French last name. Seldom, if ever, are these names said correctly the first time I am addressed by strangers. Do I care? No. I laugh and tell people not to worry about it. As long as I can figure out that they are addressing me and respond appropriately, its all good.

Sorry to hear, Liz, that you’re offended by people calling you Liz. You shouldn’t be, Liz.

Dear Liz, Liz as a term of endearment has a long and proud history, Liz.

For example, Liz, lizards carry the prefix “Liz” in their name. But one should never call a lizard a “Liz” because it might confuse people into thinking you’re a lizard, Liz. We don’t want that, nor do we want to belittle lizards by being identified with you, Liz.

To avoid confusion amongst people thinking you’re a lizard, Liz, try adding a few “Zs” to your name, like this - Lizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Hiss out the last dozen or so “Zs” for good effect so everyone knows it’s you, and not a lizard.

This new pronounciation should garner the necessary attention you seek, Lizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Anyway, Lizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, I am so happy to be of service to you. If I can be of further assistance, don’t hesitate to call.

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